Apparatus for removing drill-tools from wells.



Y PATENTED JUNE 9, 1903. E'. GQIRVXNE & J. B. BRADEN..

No. 730,460. l

APPARATUS FOR REMOVING DRILL TOOLS FROM WELLS.l APPL'IGATIoNHLBD JULY29. 1001,

' 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

H0 MODEL.

1 i i i I lulll. IAA/ No. 730,460'. PATBNTED JUNE 9, 1903;

F. G. IRVINE L J. B. BRADEN. APPARATUS FOR REMVNG DRLL TOLS FROM WELLS.

APPLIGATIUN F'ILED JULY 29, 1901. un MODEL. 2 sHB5Ts-sHBBT 2.

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l UNITED A STATES Patented une 9, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

APPARATUS Fon REMOVING Daum-roms FnoM WELLS. f

SPECIFICATlZON forming part of Letters PatentNo. 730,460, dated June 9,1903.

Application died July 29, 1901.

. To Vfr/lll whom dma/y concern: y

Be it known that we, FREDERICK G. IRVINE and JOHN B. BRADEN, citizens ofthe United Slates,residingat Salem, in the county of Harrison and Stateof West Virginia, have inventeda new and useful Apparatus for Removing`Drilling-Tools from Wells, of Awhich nthe following is a specification.V

This invention relates toapparatus for removing drilling-tools fromwells; audit has for. its object in a thoroughly effective and reliablemanner to recover drilling-tools from wells where they have-become boundby the cavingiu of the walls of the well or from other causes.

A further object is to provide means coacting with thedrilling-tool-engaging means by which to prevent the casing fromdropping` down over the toolv should the casing pull apart under thestress of the mechanism emplolyed for raising the casing and with it thetoo A further object is to provide simple and positively-operated mea-nsfor causing positive contact between'the casingand the means engagingtherewith for holding the casing raised. i

A further object is to provide a device 'of the character specifiedwhich may, in addition to its function of sustaining the casing and ofremoving the'jammed toolv from the well, he employed to operate the toolwhereby to dislodge any cavings-such as rock, sand, and the like-in thewell. l

With these and other objects in view, as will appear as the nature ofthe invention is better understood, the same consists in the novelconstruction and combination of parts of a device forremovingdrilling-tools from wells,ias will be hereinafter fullydescribed f and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, -forming a. part of this specification,and in which like numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts, wehave i llnstrated -a form of embodiment of our invention capable ofcarrying the same into effect, it being understood that theconstruction, arrangement, and manner' of'operation of the parts maybevaried or changed withontdeparting froxnthe spirit of the invention.

In the drawings, Figure l is a view in sectional elevation exhibiting asection of tool -with pairs of lugs which'the Shanks serial N. 70,127.uit man.)

I the lower portion of a well, showing our improved apparatus inoperative connection with the well-casing and `with a tool therein. Fig.2 is a detached detail view of the apparatus; Fig. Sis asdeelevationillustrating the construction for lifting the well-casing and theReferring lo the drawings, l designates the well-casing; 2, a bowlcarried byits lower portion and secured thereto, preferably by athreaded con neclion at 3. The bowl is reduced in interiordiameter atitslower end to form a conical or wedge su rface 4, the smaller diameter ofthe bowl being sufficient to allow it easily to slip over the largestdiameter of the string of tools, and thereby permit the casing to beloweredl over the tools without any binding action. string of toolsherein shown is the rope-socket to which the cable or rope operating thetools is secured. The bowl 2, carried by the'wellcasing, may be of otherconstruction than that shown, and as its precise construction forms nopart 4of the present invention detailed illustration nr description isdeemed unnecessary.

The mechanism for removing a tool from the well and also for holdingrthe casing from dropping down over'the tool when kthe same is to beremoved com prises two setsof toothed 'wedges 6 and 7, respectively, thewedges 6 being externally toothed to engage with the inner wall of thewell-casing and the wedges 7 being internally toothed to engage with theshank ofv the tool to be removed, these wed-ges being preferablyhardenedsteel, whereby to render the teeth eiective for biting into the metal ofthe casing .and of the tool, thus to renderl them effective for thepnrposes'desinmed.,l The' wedges', of which in this instance there Aaretwo in number, are each pro-` vided with a shank'S, the upper end ofeach of which isvpivotally connected with a head 9, `the head being'providedv on opposite sides or shoulders 10, between 8 are pivoted,asclearly shown in Fig. 2. The head 9 is herein shown as a'rectangularstructn re; but it is to be understood that it may becircular or ofother shape,

also that more than two of the wedges 6 may be employed, and still bewithin the scope of SALEM, wEs'r VIRGINIA.

ss l6o the invention; The head 9 has associated with ita yoke or bail11, the manner of connecting the yoke with the head in this instancebeing by providing the head with two openings 12, through which theendsof the bail extend, and turning nuts 13 on the lower ends of the bailmembers, these nuts to, bear against the under face of the head` asclearly shown in Fig. 1. The inner faces ofthe wedges aresinooth anddiverge outwardfrom the top to the bottom, and each constitute a segmentof a circle, the smooth diverging faces of the wedges to engage with acone 14, constituting an abutment carried by ono end of a bolt 15, thebolt to pass through a central openingin the head 9 and to constitute aguide therefor, the bolt to be provided with a stop in the nature of-abolt-.head 16,-by which to limit As will be observed by reference toFig. 1, when the Wed-ges- 6 are in engagement with the cone the head ot'the bolt 15 is some distance above the head 9, and the object of thisarrangement is to permit the cone iir'st to seat itself upon the tool,which will constitute a solid channel, after which the wedge 6 will beseated upon the cone, and by reason of the coaction between theconverging sides of the cone and the wedges the latter will be forcedoutward against 'the inner walls of the wellcasing, thereby. causing theteeth of the wedges to bite into the `said walls of the casing. The coneis provided on its under surface with a chamber 17, (indicated-by dottedlines in Fig. 1,) and in this chamber the head of the tool will restwhen the cone is seated. While it is preferred generally to provide thecone with a seat, it is to bev understood that it is not absolutelyessential to the operation of the device that it should be employed, asin practice it may be omitted without interfering` with the operation ofthe device. The lower portion of the cone is Vprovided with acircumferential flange 18, provided with three equidistantly-spacedrecesses 19, in which are bolted the shanks 20 of the wedges`7. Asherein shown, there are but three of the wedges employedybut it is to beunderstood that the number ,may be increased and still be within thescope of our invention.

To the bail 11 there is connected a cable 21,

yhich passes designed to be connected with suitable winding mechanism,(not'shown,) wherebj1 the rab device may be lowered into and raised outof the well independently of the casing 1.-

In the operation of the device when a tool or string of tools has becomejammed in the well and cannotv be removed by the ordinary cable thecasing 1 is sunk down as far as the head of the tool, after which thewedge-car-- rying portion of the apparatus is dropped into the well, andthe wedges 7-by contact with the reduced diameter Ltof the bowl will becaused to bite into the shank of the tool. At tho same time the cone 14:is seated on the' top of the tool, and the wedges 6 then drop thedownward movement of the cone.

to the mouth of the well and is int-ol engagement with the cone, and byreasonof the coaction between faces of thewedges pointed out, be causedto bite into the well-casing. Snitable hoisting' mechanism is attachedto the casing, and lifting movement is imparted thereto, the wedges l7operating to lift the drill. Should the casing part or break from thestrain applied thereto, the wedges 6 will prevent the same from droppingdown over the tool. By reason of the coaction between the wedges 6 andthe casing, together with the cone 14, the casing, with the tool, may beoperated to cause the tool to` loosen any caving that may haveaccumulated in the well, so that, in eiect, the two sets of wedgesconstitute a double grip to permit the operator to work the tools up anddown to dislodge any obstructive matter in the well.

It will be understood that in reciprocating the tool to loosen the sameit is the casing 1 that is worked in an endwise direction to secure thisreciprocation of the tool, and in elevating the tool power only and notto the cable nected to the grab device. When upward movement is appliedto the casing, the internal beveled portion of the bowl 2 forces thewedges or jaws 7 into engagement with the tool,so as to interlock theseparts for simultaneous vertical movement; but when downward movement isapplied .to the casing the beveled portion of the bowl movesaway fromthe jaws and the interlocking connection hetween the tool and the casingisbroken. 1n order that the tool may be forced downwardly and upwardlyhyv corresponding movements of the casing, there has been provided meansand the conc, as hefore the teeth of the wedges 6 will the converging Yis applied tothe casing 21, which is conroo for interlocking the tooland the casing dury ing the ownward movement of the latter, said meansbeing formed by the upper jaws or wedges 6, whichare wedged between theconical portion 14 and the interior of the casing` when the latter isdropped downwardly only. Bythis means there is an interlocked connectionbetween the tool and the casing during the opposite movements of thelatter, whereby these parts are always rigidly connected, for when oneof the connections is loose the other is fast.

In Fig. 3 of the drawings is illustrated the mechanism for reciprocatingthe well-casing and the tool, and this mechanism consists of thestandard oil-well rig, which is provided with the vusual walking-beam;but as this mechanism does not constitute a` portion of the presentinvention and is well understood in the art to which the presentinvention relates a detai f description of the construction andoperation of such oil-well rig is deemed unnecessary. The well-casing isconnected with the cable of the rig and is operated in the ordinarymanner.

From the foregoing seen that adequate only for removing a ITO also thatmeans are provided whereby in the case of damage to the well-casing, asfrom breaking or parting under the strain of the hoisting mechanism, thesaid casing will be prevented from dropping .down over the tool, and,further, that. by the provision of 4the double sets of toothed wedgesand with the provision of the cone not only is the ltool caused to bermly engaged by its appropri- K ate set of wedges, but also the casingto the cone'is caused to be engaged by its appropriate set of wedges.-

It is to be understood, as before pointed out, that the invention is notto be limited to the precise construction and arrangements of partsherein shown, as in the practical operation of the device variouschanges may sug gest themselves to the operator which may be scribed,the combination adopted without departing fromthe scope ofthe/invention.

From the foregoingit isA thought that the construction, operation, andmany advantages of the herein-described invention will be apparent tothose skilled in the art without further description, and it will beunderstood that various changes in the size, shape, proportion, andminor details of constrution may be resorted to without departing fromthe spirit or sacricing any of the advantages of the invention. Y

What we claim is- 1. In an apparatus tools from wells,'the combinationwith a casing adapted for end wise-reci procatory movement, of a grab tobe lowered into the casing, and having means for interlocking thegrabwith the casing and also with a drill-tool to provide forsimultaneously reciprocating 'the latter with the casing to loosen thetool and to draw it out of the well by manipulation of the casing.

2. In an apparatus of the with a weli-casing which is adapted for endwise reci procation, of tool-engaging means, and well-casingengag' y lngmeans, the two means being in such relation with the casing as to bealternately brought into operation by the reciprocatory movement of thecasing.

3.v In an apparatus 'of the character described, the combination with awell-casing which is adaplred for endwise reciprocation, of an abutme'tto rest upon the top of the tool, casing-engaging means in coperativerelation with the abutment, and tool-gripping means carried bytheabutment.

4. In an apparatus for removing drillingtools from wells, the combination with 'a casing adapted for end wise-reci procatcry movement, of agrab to be lowered into the casing and having means for interlocking'the grab with the interior of the casing, and also provided with meansto be gripped between the casing and the tool for interlocking thesame,where by the tool may be reciprocated by a corre-V spondingmovement of the casing.

5. A device for removing drilling-tools from for removing drilling ing aseat for character (le-- engagement with the casing.

wells, comprising an abutment havingaseat for the upper end ofadrilbtool, casing-engagingclamping means in' coperative relation withthe abutment to be gripped between the-latter, l tool-gripping meanscarried by the abutment toengage the tool atan intermediate point of itslength, whereby the tool is interlocked with the casing and may bereoiprocated by acorresponding movement of the casing.

V6. Adeyice forremovingdrillingftoolsfrom wells, comprising a grab to belowered into a well-casing and havinga double grip, one of which isconstructed to engage the interior of a caslingamd 'interlock the grabtherewith, and the other being constructed to engage the 'exterior of adrill-tool and interlock the same with the grab, whereby the-tool may bereciprocated by a'corresponding movement of the casing to loosen thetool and-withdraw the same from the well.

'7. A device for removingdrillingtools from wells,- comprising awedge-shaped abutment having a seat for engagement-with thetop ofa'drill-tool, a guide rising from the abutment, casing engaging meansslidably mounted upon the guide and in cooperative relation with the.wedge shaped abutment to force said means into engagement with thecasing, lowering means connected to the casing-enand the well-casing',and

gaging means, and tool-engaging' means can' ried bythe abutment.

8. 'In an apparatus for removing drillingtools from wells, acone-shapedabutment havengagement with the top of a drill-tool, a guide-rising fromthe abutment, a head swiveled upon and also slidably mounted upon'theguide, a stop to limit the slidable movement of the head,asuspending-link ris-f ing from the head, and .pendentexternallyserrated casing-engaging jaws swung from the head and incoperative relation with the cone-shapedI abutment to force the jawsinto 9. In an apparatus for removing drilling'- tools from Wells, lthecombi-nation of an abutlment having upwardly-converged'sides and achambered base to rest upon the top of the drill-tool,laterally-swinging and vertical reciprocatory easingfengaging wedges incoperative relation with the inclined sides of the abutment, a guideconnection with the upper end of the latter, and means for attaching alowering device to the connection between the wedges andthe abutment. r

10. In .an apparatus of the character specilied, a cone-abutmentprovided with a guide having a stop, a. head working on the guide,externally serrated wellcasing engaging wedges having Shanks pivotallyconnected with the head and eoacting with the abutment, andinternally-serrated tool-engaging wedges having Shanks secured to theabutment.

11. In an apparatus of the character specified, a cone-abutment providedon its upper side with a guide and'in its under surface with rzo arecess, a head working on the guide and carrying wellcasing -engagingmeans to coact with the abutment and tool-engaging means ing its lowerextremity provided with a bowl haviugits lower portion constricted, of acone-k abutment movable inthe casing and carrying at its upper portion aheaded guide, and at its lower portion internally-serrated tool-engagingwedges to b e projected inward by contact with the constricted portionof the bowl,l a head working on the saidA guide,'externally serratedwell-casing-engaging wedges carried by the head and coacting with theabutment, and a bail carried by the head.

13. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination with anendwise-reciprocatoryy casing, of a tool-grab located within the casingand having an intermediate support to Irest upon the top of a tool,lower toolengaging means, and upper casing-engaging means, the former.means being active during a downward movement only of the casin g andthe other"means beingy active during an upward movement only of thecasing.

14. In-an apparatus for removing drillingtools from wells, thecombination with an endwise-reciprocatory casing, of a tool-grab locatedwithin the casing and having a support to rest upon the top of a tool,tool-gripping means depending from the support, and casing-grippin gmeans located above the tool-engaging means, whereby the grab isinterlocking a tool with thecasing taneous movement therewith.

15. A device for removing drilling-tools from wells, comprising acone-abutment having a recess in the bottom thereof to receive the upperend of a tool, shanks pendent from the abutment, internally-serrated andexternally-beveled tool-gripping jaws carried by the lower ends of theshanks, a cylindrical stem rising from the abutment -and having a headupon its' upper end, a swiveled head slidably mounted upon the stem andlimited in its outward movement by the fixed head of capable of for simul- A the stem, pendent laterally-swinging shanks pivoted to oppositesides of the swiveled head, externallyserrated and internally smooth andbeveled casin -engaging jaws in operative relation with the beveledsides of the cone-abutment, and a link connectedvto the slidable head. 1

16. In an apparatus of the class described, the combinationwith themovable casing, of `a grab having means for engaging the upper portionof the drill-tool to hold it from longitudinal movement, means interiorof the casing to lock the same from -low its upper end able casinggripping for gripping the independent movement, and means for grip pingthe side of the drill-tool at a point beand near the lower end of thecasing, vwhereby the drill-tool and casing may be locked together andreciprocated simnltaneously.

17. An apparatus for removing drill-tools from wells,.comprising anabutment to rest upon the top of adrill-tool, means vcarried by andconstructed to interlock the abutment with a well-casing to prevent theabutment from being forced upwardly by the tool dur` ing a downwardmovement of the casing, and means carried by the abutment for grippingthe drilling-tool to interlock the same during: an upward movement ofthe casing.

18. An apparatus for removing drill-tools from wells, comprising anabutment to rest upon the top of a drill-tool, vertically-movvmeanscarried by the abutment and cooperating therewith to conneet the samewith a well-casing when the abutment rests upon the top of thedrill-tool, a suspending device connected to the casingengaging means tohold the same out of lengagement with the casing when the apparatus isbeing lowered, and means ,carried by the abutment for gripping adrill-tool, whereby the apparatus is adapted to interlock a drilltooland well-casing for simultaneous endwise movements. f

19. In an apparatus for removing drill-tools from wells, the combinationwith a well-casing which is adapted for reciprocation, of a grab to belowered into the casing, and embodying an abutment to rest upon the topof a drill-tool and having upwardly-converged sides, verticallymovablecasing-gripping means carried by the abutment in coperative relationwith the inclined sides to prevent upward movement of the abutmentduring a downward movement of the casing, a suspending device connectedto the casingengaging means for lowering the grab and to hold saidcasing-engaging means out of engagement with theabutment and the casingwhen the grab is being lowered, and toolgripping means hung from theabutment and constructed to be wedged between of the tool and the sidesof the casing when the latter is moved upwardly to connect thedrill-tool to the casing.

In testimonythat we claim the foregoing as our own we have hereto aixedour signatures in the presence of two witnesses'.

FRED. G. IRVINE. JOHN B. BRADEN.

Witnesses:

E. K. Sco'r'r, Jr., LLOYD STUCK.

the sides

